Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Who would sit at paleontology's last supper?

This parody image has been making the rounds lately. It's the work of Nick Farrantello, who posted it on his blog Rational Crank. On Facebook, I jokingly asked where Dr. Thomas Holtz was. Of course, he didn't think he deserved a spot, but let's face it: we'd like to see some paleontologists at the table. So let's put it up for debate: what paleontologists would we set at a Paleontology Last Supper? This needn't be limited to dinosaur paleontology, or even vertebrate paleontology. We've got thirteen spots to fill with the people who have given us the most insight into the lost worlds of the past. Who should sit at them?

This is gonna be fun. First off, I thing Georges Cuvier deserves a seat for starting the field. Cope and Marsh would be interesting additions, just be sure to put them at opposite ends of the table. John Ostrom should definitely go there, and as for non-dinosaur paleontologists, two that come to mind are George Gaylord Simpson and Stephen Jay Gould. Well, those are my nominations. Take em or leave em.

Bakker deserves a seat for sure. One or more of the Sternbergs should be there and Barnum Brown while we're at it. For people who supported and helped Palaeo in outreach Knight and Paul should be too (even if I'm still furious at Paul for his recent online behaviour towards the community).

in no order: Romer, Simpson, Carroll, Owen, Anning, William Smith, Gould, Sternberg the elder, Colbert, Walcott, Lamark, Marsh and Cope (almost to recent of a list, and too many VP people, but there you go)